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APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS FOR RN / LPN LICENSURE BY EXAMINATION

To check the status of your application go to License Verification and perform a license
verification search by name. Please allow up to 30 days for your application to show up in
the license verification system before contacting the Board.

ARIZONA IS A COMPACT STATE

If your Primary State of Residency is in another Compact State, you should not apply
for licensure in AZ unless you are declaring AZ as your Primary State of Residency.

REQUIREMENTS

U.S. EDUCATED APPLICANTS:

1. RN applicants hold a Diploma, Associate Degree or Baccalaureate Degree in
Nursing from an approved program. LPN applicants hold a Diploma or Certificate
from an approved program.
Visit RN / LPN Exceptions to view a the list of exceptions.
2. Passing score on NCLEX exam.
3. Arizona Graduates Certificate of Completion from an approved nursing
program. Download the RN/LPN Certificate of Completion document.
4. Graduates of out of state schools Transcripts, including graduation dates and
type of degree, sent by your school to Arizona State Board of Nursing.
5. Board approval for applicants who are under investigation.

FOREIGN EDUCATED APPLICANTS; Including Canada and Puerto Rico

Visit Foreign Educated Requirements for application requirements.

ITEMS TO COMPLETE FOR LICENSURE

SUBMIT A PAPER APPLICATION WITH FEE

Print a copy of the application from the website
Complete the application in black ink and sign
Answer all required questions
Application must be mailed to the Arizona State Board of Nursing (Not faxed or
emailed)

COMPLETE THE NCLEX REGISTRATION by going to pearsonvue.com/nclex OR

by phone 866-496-2539
REQUEST A CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION - sent by the program directly to
Arizona State Board of Nursing (for AZ graduates only)
REQUEST OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPTS - Sent by the program directly to Arizona
State Board of Nursing (for out-of-state graduates)

CITIZENSHIP / NATIONALITY / ALIEN STATUS DOCUMENTATION

All applicants must submit a copy of documentation regarding
citizenship/nationality/alien status. A copy of the document must be submitted on an
8 x 11 sheet of plain white paper and submitted with the application. For a list of
acceptable documents visit the Citizenship & Alien Status page.

SUBMIT A FINGERPRINT CARD

You are required to submit a full set of fingerprints for the purpose of
obtaining State and Federal criminal record checks. You are exempt from this
if you have submitted a fingerprint card to the Arizona State Board of Nursing
within the previous two years.
A fingerprint card can be obtained from any local facility that offers
fingerprinting services
It can take a minimum of 4-5 weeks to receive fingerprint results. You cannot
receive permanent licensure until these results are received.
Fingerprint Clearance Cards are not acceptable.

Additional Information
Fees & Payment Methods
All fees are in US Dollars and are non-refundable.
Application Fee: $300.00.
Fingerprint Fee: $50.00 (required, unless submitted within the previous 2 years).
Credit/Debit Card Complete and include authorization form & submit with the
application.
Personal Checks Pre-printed with your name/address and make payable to
Arizona State Board of Nursing.
Optional Temporary License
It is usually unnecessary for an Exam applicant to request a temporary license.
Exception: When fingerprints are rejected and you have already passed NCLEX
OR if it has been more than 2 years since you graduated and must take a
refresher course.
Contact Becky Melton at 602-771-7830 if you wish to request a temporary
license for either exceptions.

Felony Convictions
The Board shall revoke a nursing license or multistate privileges or deny licensure if
the applicant has one or more felony convictions that have not previously been
disclosed to the Board and has not received an absolute discharge from the sentences
for all felony convictions five or more years prior to the date of filing an application. If
this law pertains to you, your application will be processed, and proceedings for
revocation of your Arizona license or multistate privileges in Arizona or denial of your
application shall be instituted by the Board. For more information go to Reporting
Criminal Charges.

Reporting of Criminal Charges

Applicants for licensure / certification must notify the Arizona State Board of Nursing
of criminal charges within 10 days of being charged. For more information go to
Reporting Criminal Charges.

Undesignated Offense
For purposes of the Nursing Board's felony bar statutes, A.R.S Sections 32-1606(B)(17)
and 1646(B), the commission of any felony offense on or after July 23, 2010, which
results in a conviction of an undesignated offense, shall be treated by the Board as a
felony "until such time as the court may actually enter an order designating the
offense a misdemeanor" pursuant to A.R.S. Section 13-604(A).

Time Frames for Licensure

The Board is required to process applications for licensure within certain time periods,
per R4-19-102 in the Nurse Practice Act.

Candidate Processing Steps

View the Candidate Processing Steps for more information about the steps in the
candidate processing steps.

Application Process Steps

View the Application Process Steps for more information about the steps in the
application process.

Deficiency Notice
When you submit an application, the Board will send you a deficiency notice
identifying any elements of the application process which remain outstanding. If you
fail to respond to a deficiency notice within the applicable time period, your
application will be withdrawn. After withdrawal, if you are still interested in obtaining
licensure you would need to submit a new application and applicable fee.

FOREIGN EDUCATED REQUIREMENTS

Requirements for Applicants Educated in a Foreign Country (Including Canada and
*Puerto Rico)
Foreign Educated Professional or Practical Nurses Must Meet the Following Requirements (1
through 4):
1. Validation of Educational Requirements
2. Validation of English Language Skills
3. Validation of Practice
4. Passed NCLEX-RN or NCLEX-PN OR State Board Test Pool Examination
(SPTPE)
IMPORTANT: All information from any of the selected agencies listed in #1,
Educational Requirements and #2, Language Validation, must be sent dire
ctly to AZBN from the agency.

1. Validation of Educational Requirements

Request an application from Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing
Schools International (CGFNS) to obtain one of the following:
a. CES Professional Report.
b. Verification of VisaScreen Certificate.
c. Verification of CGFNS Certification (Option not available for practical
nurses).

OR
Request an application from International Education Research Foundation
(IERF) to complete an educational equivalency report.

OR
Request or download an application from Educational Records Evaluation
Services (ERES) to complete an Education Equivalency Report.

OR
Request or download an application from Josef Silny & Associates, Inc. to
complete an education equivalency report, specifically a licensing for
nursing, basic report.
OR
Have the Canadian licensure board submit a passing score on the English
language version of the CNATS or CRNE (Canadian Licensure Exam) AND
verification of Canadian licensure status directly to AZBN).

Exception RN endorsement applicants who have completed their basic nursing

education in a foreign country are exempt from this requirement if they have obtained
a BSN or graduate degree in nursing from an approved program in the United States
AND worked at least 960 hours in the five years prior to applying for AZ licensure, but
they will not be eligible for a multistate compact license without a credential
evaluation service report addressing their basic nursing education.
2. Validation of English Language Skills
(If you are an exam applicant you MUST meet the English Language requirement
BEFORE taking the NCLEX Exam.)
Exemptions from Validation of English Language Skills requirement:
If you have graduated from a nursing program in a country or territory where
the principle language is English (i.e. Australia, United Kingdom, New
Zealand, Canada (excluding Quebec), Ireland, Trinidad, Tobago, South Africa,
Ghana, Jamaica, Barbados, or United States territory) you do not need to
validate your English language skills.

OR
If you have been employed as a nurse for 960 hours or more within the past
5 years in a country or territory where the principal language is English (see
countries/territories above) you do not need to validate your English
language skills.
If the principal language of the country where your nursing program was
given is a language other than English, you are required to obtain one of the
following options.

Internet-based (iBT) Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with a

minimum score of 84 and a minimum speaking score of 26.
* To have results sent to AZBN use the code 9680 when completing the
application.

OR
International English Language Test Service Academic Examination (IELTS)
with a minimum score of 6.5 on the Overall Band Score with a minimum of
6.0 on each module.
OR
Pearson test of English Academic Exam with a minimum score of 55 overall
and a minimum score of 50 on each section.
OR
Visa Screen Certificate from CGFNS.
OR

A CGFNS Certificate

3. Validation of Practice
Have met one of the following practice requirements:
a. Practiced as a nurse for 960 hours or more in the past 5 years or
b. Graduated from a nursing program and obtained a degree within past 5 years
or
c. Completed an Arizona Board approved refresher course in the past 5 years or
d. Obtained an advanced nursing degree in the past 5 years (i.e. LPN to RN, RN
to BSN, masters, or doctorate).
4. Passed NCLEX-RN or NCLEX-PN or State Board Test Pool Examination
(SBTPE) **
** If you have passed the SBTPE in Canada between certain dates, you will have met
the testing requirement.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Nurses educated in a foreign country and have not passed NCLEX or SBTPE
must apply for licensure by examination.
Applicants who have passed NCLEX but were NOT issued a license need to
apply for licensure by exam. You do not need to re-test.
Applicants who meet all the requirements except the social security number
can be issued a license in AZ, if they sign and complete the affidavit at
www.azbn.gov/Applications under Other Form Downloads.
Applicants living abroad who have meet all the license requirement except
proof of lawful presence can be issued a license in AZ if they sign and submit
the affidavit www.azbn.gov/Applications under Other Form Downloads.